During surgery, a dynamic team of specialists skilled in nursing, anesthesia and surgical technical skills work together with your surgeon to ensure the best outcome for you.
But how are YOU BEST PREPARING for this journey even before heading into the OR?
After all, your body will be sedated and many of your organ systems will be monitored if not controlled by machines being overseen by this team.
Take control NOW of your best outcomes LATER.
So how do we take the time to meet in the middle and unpack the importance of PREPARATION?
The environment into which surgeons and their teams will operate in must be appropriate for HEALING.
Below we recommend some anecdotal points to begin with.
“P.B.B.B.B.”
PREHAB- Keep on moving before surgery!
- Continued movement keeps the blood flowing, preventing the increased risk of blood clots.
- Prehab will also help with movement after surgery.
- As well, physical activity has been shown to lift your mood!
BREATH-Literally, BREATHE!
- Many of us, especially when in pain breathe very shallow and this can lead to a sense of breathlessness (go figure)
- Shallow breathing can result in decreased blood flow to the healing bone or joints that will be undergoing surgery.
- There will be a noticeable change in your breathing post op because of pain meds which can cause your breathing to be even more shallow!
BLOOD PRESSURE-Avoid Highs and Lows!
- Too low or too high may both be dangerous in the pre-and intraoperative period of surgery.
- Control blood pressure preoperatively by:
- appropriately taking prescribed medications,
- decreasing stress,
- continuing to participate in cardiovascular activity,
- obtaining proper sleep,
- avoiding cigarette use
These measures can all contribute to optimizing your blood pressure and decreasing your risk of stroke or heart attack during or after surgery.
BOWEL PREP- FIBER is KEY!
- Many of the processed foods and meat that we eat daily can contribute to poor gastric emptying.
- The reason why patients are asked not to eat after midnight prior to receiving anesthesia is to decrease the potential for aspiration.
- Postoperatively, many patients are given medications which may further slow bowel activity resulting in the risk of bowel obstruction.
- As our gut is our major immune system it is imperative that we detoxify it within the week before surgery.
- This can be as simple as increasing water intake, increasing fruits and vegetables which can provide antioxidant and natural immune support.
BLEEDING- Go with the flow!
- Be cautious of foods that can thin your blood which can make it difficult to control bleeding in the intraoperative setting.
- Be honest with current medications that you may be taking (including supplements) which have been shown to make the blood thin.
- Follow your surgeon’s advice on when (or if) to hold certain blood thinners prior to surgery.
For a full review of what your medical team is doing for YOU and how you can optimize YOUR success, read further at the link below to learn more about the ENHANCED RECOVERY AFTER SURGERY (ERAS) plan.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5598914/
BE WELL!!
Author
Andrea G. Espinoza MD
Board Certified Pulmonologist
Board Certified LifeStyle Medicine
